Dinghy Show

Originally posted by sandgrounder Originally posted by turnturtle a new North D-Zero sail is £899.   It's actually £699

Originally posted by turnturtle I'd agree with David to a point- a Solo is a more sophisticated choice in some ways.  You can choose hull shapes with different rocker profiles, spars with different bend characteristics.  Foils sections can vary and all these subtle differences enable a level of customisation we just don't have in the Zero - for good reason, but I don't think 'price point' was the key driver. There's evolution in the sail design which will not stop - a new North Solo sail is £1200, a new North D-Zero sail is £899.  You are paying for the ongoing technical development and campaign of professional sailors in one, in the other the development work is done, it's over.... for the time being anyway. One of the design goals for the Zero was simplicity- it's something I respect, because having sailed one, I think this has been achieved without any noticeable compromise on how the boat feels to sail. It's not a tweakers boat though, it was never intended to be, so I respect that someone with a penchant for Merlins and Solos would probably need a little more convincing than someone like me who just wants a wednesday evening chariot which requires minimal set up and intellectual bandwidth when making my buying decisions. I'm now busy looking at the pros and cons of a boom up cover.... this is about as technical as I want really.

I did say that I am full of prejudice!  To be fair to you I like the look of the D-Zero more than I like the Aero, the rig looks far more sophisticated.

I think what I'm trying to say Rupert and I admit i could be wrong.  Perhaps someone like Dan could confirm.  The Solo was designed to be built out of wood and as such does it not add to the complexity of a foam build?  I seem to remember my Winder being made up out of more than two moulds like the Zero.  Surely the more hours and components needed to make a boat means more time and as such more cost.  Now I'm obviously not a boat builder.  But there must be a reason it costs more to produce?

"and the fact it was design to be built in wood not composites so modern boats will take longer and cost more to build."

That really true? I could see the opposite being the case, as the material usage in the old boat is compromised by the design being for a different material.